Like many bloggers this year, I am looking at Christmas through the lens of Advent. For me, it is a way to salvage some of the sweetness of the holy season, as well as a way to ease the despair which often engulfs me at this time of year.

In my mind’s eye the colour of spring is tender: pink and white and violet, and dimpled daffodil yellow; diaphanous blue; soft, lush green; all steeped in warm, lemon honey sunshine. But that is not often the reality of spring, particularly in Christchurch where, in September, the average sunshine hours per day number 5.5.

No, the colour of spring is more nuanced than my mind’s eye would have it. It is frequently overcast with grey,

Spring Grey

and dim drizzle, (skip to the end of the video if you are interested in the cherry blossom)

and shaded skies.

Spring under shaded sky

But for all that my spring is not mental picture-perfect, I still love it. And I will take it any way it comes.

I love spring however it is served; but I don’t eat daffodils ~ they’re poisonous ~ just saying ;).

As a way of bringing a lighter, brighter look to my house, I have let her creative spirit have free rein in my domain. There are new paintings everywhere. And some of her old ones, too.

They make me smile. They remind me that spring is nearly here; that the magnolia is about to bloom again. They remind me that my dreary, old soul will soon be revived by longer hours of daylight; longer hours of sunshine.

Here’s a look at some of my artist’s work. Do you know who she is? If you are long time reader of this blog, you have met her before. Of course, she isn’t physically in residence, but what fun it would be if she really were.

The little girl in me

Portrait of Gallivanta’s Magnolia

More Magnolias

Just the two of us

Dog in residence

Jack, the perfect artist’s model-in-residence

I haven’t taken photos for a while. I am out of practice. It shows. I think I need a photographer-in-residence!

Some of you will have noticed that I have been peeking round the cyber curtain lately, much like the child who has been sent to bed on the night of the party, but can’t resist peering round the door to see what the grown ups are doing.

And, like that child, I am enjoying my glimpses into the other room ( of WordPress ). Am I ready to cast aside the curtain and boldly enter into your presence? Not quite. Not yet. I am still busy gathering up the riches of a lovely warm autumn; storing them away for the winter ahead.

I have also been gathering memories, like this one. In April I spent time with my parents who live in Australia. My mother and I worked on a small art project which involved threads and beads and ribbons and decorative butterflies. When it was finished I held it up, and said to my mother, “It’s very pretty but I have no idea what we have made, or what it is for? What do you think it is for ?” She looked at it, uncertainly, and said, after a moment’s reflection, ” A wigwam for a goose’s bridle.”

I laughed. A truer word was never spoken. (Though I don’t think she meant the saying in its “mind your own business” sense. It was more that she thought we had made something nonsensical!)

‘A wigwam for a goose’s bridle’ April 2016

And with that piece of nonsense, I am going to retire for the night. I love knowing you are just on the other side, with your songs and stories, your words and your wisdom, your photos and fine art, your feelings and foibles, your heart, your smiles. In the hush of my room I listen to the hum of your cyber chatter. Bliss…….

Just a quick post to let you know that I will be away quite a lot from my blog (and your blogs) for the next 6 weeks.

I will be preoccupied with family matters, visiting, and being visited. It’s also my 60th birthday towards the end of March. I am not planning a big celebration, or even a small one, but I am planning some ‘me’ time.

This is not of me, but a painting made for me. I am very fond of it, and it somehow sits well with my upcoming birthday and my proposed time for myself.